The ocean "blinks" when they attack: scientists have removed the amazing hunting of predators (video)

Researchers have noticed for the first time that sea predators change color during joint hunting in the ocean. Among marine inhabitants who change color, the ability to blink from one shade to another is most commonly used when evading predators, not for hunting prey. However, scientists have found that some sea predators also use this tactics during group hunting, Inverse writes. This unique behavior was noticed by a group of researchers from Germany and the United Kingdom.

During the study, scientists used drone and were able to record the group hunting of Marlin (Kajikia Audax): the footage shows a rapid change in color in such predators oriented to the command work. In focus. Technology has appeared its Telegram channel. Subscribe not to miss the latest and most intrusive news from the world of science! It turned out that striped marlin could change its appearance from blue-gray to high-contrast stripes in seconds.

To do this, predators use cells known as iridophoras consisting of thin crystalline protein plates, which act as multilayered reflectors. It should be noted that scientists still knew that marlin was able to change their color in this way, but discovery was that this behavior helps them in hunting.

According to the leading author of the study, a researcher at the biology at the University of Humbolt Alicia Burns, the change in color in marine predators is quite rare, especially in predators who hunt groups. However, the change in the color of the marlin seems to have a double function: in total, the team analyzed 12 videos with wide resolution depicting 24 marlin attacks on the sardine jamm off the coast of the Southern Lower California (Mexico).

While watching the video, scientists noticed that in a few moments the attacks of Marlin's strip were noticeably lightened, but some remained gray-blue. In order to measure the correspondence of the hunting role and color, the team quantitatively appreciated the contrasting brightness of the attacks of two attacks and one that did not attack. The attacked fish always had the brightest contrast immediately before the attack and dull after completion.

Scientists now believe that the intensity of the stripes plays an important role in the hunting of marlin. Burns with the team believes that the lighting and eclipse of the stripes allows the marlin to signal to each other that they are going to attack - thus predators prevent accidental collisions. This change can also blind the victim of Sardin and interfere with any attempt to escape.